Hi, minna-chan! Here's Chapter 1 of TCD. Not too
many revisions in this time around, but there are
a few. Please e-mail me and let me know what you
think! sailor_moon89@hotmail.com
I'd like to send a *BIG HUG* to my buddy, Andree-Anne,
who's not feeling too well this week. Hope you'll be
on your feet soon, hon! *more hugs*
I'd also like to send a big thank you to Angela,
without whom my grammar would look like something
out of a five year old's diary. *hugs Angela*
I've got a new fic coming out sometime soon...maybe
in a week or so. It's called "Crash and Burn," and
I'm trying to make the plot quite different from
your usual fanfiction. It's about my favorite
character, Mamoru...but the rest is a secret! ^^
You can probably find it soon at my new website.
Please sign up for my mailing list to hear about
new chapters:
http://www.geocities.com/moonlit_eclipse
Happy reading!
~Aimee-chan >^..^<
*denotes word emphasis*
@--
"You know, when I was your age, I thought
to myself, 'Why do I need to learn all of this? I'll
never use it in the real world!' Little did I know
I'd be in the glorious position I am now. If you're
smart, Usagi, you'll pull your grades up. You could
be a teacher like me one day."
"And furthermore...geometry will enable you
to appreciate the full glory of shapes. I can't
pretend to understand why you don't relish them..."
"Uh, Mrs. Tutty?" I thankfully interrupted.
"The two hours are up..."
She scowled, irritated that I had disturbed
her glorification of spheres and cubes. Not only
did I dislike the woman, I was now convinced that
somewhere between college and the present, she had
completely lost her mind. "You can go...but I want
to see some improvement, young lady."
"Yes, ma'am."
I ran.
@--
I glanced up and groaned.
"Are you ignoring me, Odango?" my archenemy
inquired.
"Of course I'm not ignoring you," I snapped,
halfheartedly accepting the hand he offered out to
help me to my feet. "And quit calling me that. Do
you even know what my real name is?"
He smiled--that annoying little smile that's
both insulting and aggravating. Oooo, that man makes
me seethe...
"I'll call you whatever I like, little girl,"
he said, rubbing in the fact that I was vertically
challenged. Darn the man!
Highly insulted, I stood on my tippy-toes,
closing in the gap of height between us (not by much,
mind you, but enough to make me feel better about
myself). I poked a finger dangerously close to his
left eye and growled all the insults I could think
of at him. "You are undoubtedly the most conceited,
haughty, condescending, arrogant, unthoughtful,
stuck-up, egotistical JERK!!!"
"Say it a little louder, Odango. I don't
think they heard you in London."
"Oooooo!" I stormed off, completely exasperated
by the now-laughing Chiba Mamoru.
You don't know Mamoru, do you, dear readers?
Well, take a moment to rejoice over your ignorance.
His favorite past-times include organizing his day-
planner and thinking of new insulting names for my
hair. Did you catch the Odango Atama remark? Hey,
quit laughing! That's not funny!
I do have to admit, however, that Mamoru
(though seriously lacking in charm) is extremely
attractive--dark hair, blue eyes, exceptional body
(not that I was looking). You must understand how
disheartening it is to know that the *only* good-
looking man in Tokyo who actually takes time out
of his day to talk to me only does so to test out
his new put-downs.
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate irony?
@--
"I'll be fine, Rei." My voice was small, my
thoughts elsewhere.
She continued to watch me with concerned
eyes. "You know I'm here if you ever need to talk,
right?"
"I know."
Before Rei could respond, our conversation
was interrupted by the piercing sound of both our
senshi communicators going off simultaneously. Rei
got to hers first. "Mars here... what's up?"
"I think we might have a problem. There's
an eight-foot-tall ugly thing with far too many arms
roaming around the Shinjuku Gyoen Gardens," said a
familiar voice. I fumbled for my communicator and
switched it on. My gaze fell upon the clear blue
eyes of Minako, our newest senshi.
"Has the youma attacked yet?" I asked,
fingering my transformation locket in anticipation
of the fight that was soon to follow.
"Not yet, but it--" She was cut off by the
sounds of screaming in the distance. "Hurry up, guys!
I'll try to hold it off until you get here!"
The communication link went dead, and Rei
and I exchanged a mutual glance of apprehension
before we raced from the Cherry Hill Temple toward
the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
@--
But the nightmare wasn't ending, and I quickly
grew frantic.
Somewhere, The Almighty must have heard my
prayer, for He sent a miracle. Although, I really
don't think The Almighty would have approved of his
colorful choice of words...
"Get your damn hands off of her..."
My attacker turned his attention away from
me to look into the darkness of the alley he had
pulled me into. I took the opportunity and bit the
hand that was over my mouth for all I was worth.
The man cursed, backed away, and struck me hard
across the face.
I hit the ground unwittingly, knowing for
the first time what it was like to be hit by a man.
My head was dazed, and my cheek ached. I felt my
pulse pounding in my lower lip, which was now bleeding.
Completely disoriented, I began to cry.
I heard the sounds of a fight nearby but
was entirely too upset and frightened to look up.
Someone hit the ground, however...and stayed there.
"Are you all right?" said a voice. A very
familiar voice.
There, in front of me, stood Tuxedo Kamen.
I blinked a few times, unsure if he was real. Near
his feet was my attacker, unconscious.
"Are you okay?" he repeated, taking a step
near me. I drew back like a frightened animal. I
don't know why I did so. Even without knowledge of
his intentions toward the senshi, I knew from my
experience as Sailor Moon that he wouldn't hurt me,
but I was so scared that I wasn't thinking correctly.
He noted my frantic reaction to his approach and
backed off. "It's all right. I won't hurt you. Do
you know who I am?"
I nodded, the trembling of my body causing
it to be a shaky nod. I couldn't keep my body still--
it shivered like it had a mind of its own. The fact
that I was wet from the still-pouring rain didn't
help matters.
Tuxedo Kamen cautiously approached me, and
this time I didn't protest. Slowly, he knelt before
me. I wished over and over that I could quit shaking.
There I was--alone with the man of my dreams.
Strange, but I liked my daydreams much better than
this. I looked at the ground, unable to meet his
concerned gaze, and cried. I couldn't help it, and
the fact that I felt ashamed of my tears caused
them to fall harder.
I felt a weight on my shoulders and realized
he had placed his cape over me. It was warm and
comforting, and it shielded me from the rain. I
nuzzled down in it, trying to hide from reality.
"T-thank you," I managed to say, but my teeth were
chattering so badly, I doubt if he understood me.
His answer confirmed he did comprehend,
however. "You're welcome. I'm sorry I was late,"
he said, pressing a handkerchief to my bleeding
lip. "Please forgive me."
"You weren't late," I whispered.
He shook his head but didn't respond. He
spoke again only after a few moments of silence.
"Come on--I'll see that you get home safely."
I stood up shakily and cast a weary look at
my attacker. Gazing upon the crumpled form on the
ground, I began to get frightened again. "Come on,"
Tuxedo Kamen beckoned me once more. Practically
whimpering, I stepped over the unconscious form
and followed the tall man, telling him in a small
voice where I lived.
How strange it felt to be walking beside
the man who so often graced my dreams. My little
legs had a hard time keeping up with his long ones,
especially with his heavy cape wrapped around me.
He seemed to notice my struggle and slowed his pace
a bit.
He turned to me as we walked. "If you don't
mind me asking, what are you doing outside so late
alone?"
I faltered. I didn't know how to answer. I
couldn't exactly tell the man that I was Sailor Moon.
"I...um...was looking for my cat."
"Your cat?"
"Hai," I affirmed. "She ran away, and I was
um...looking for her."
"I see," he answered, no particular emotion
in his tone. "Well, Usagi, I have a favor to ask of
you."
"A favor?" I echoed, completely unnerved.
"The favor is that you never *ever* leave
your house again so late at night unaccompanied."
He turned to me, ocean-blue eyes burning into my
own...there was something hidden in their depths...
an enigma . I felt as though he could see straight
through me. "Are we agreed?"
"All right..." I answered softly, still in
awe of the man before me.
"But just to be sure," he said. "I'll be
watching."
I blinked, and he was gone.
@--